Associated Press

Deowraj "Deo" Buddhu is scheduled to be sentenced Friday in federal court in Hartford. He was found guilty last year of multiple charges related to the scheme.

Authorities say the scheme defrauded numerous struggling homeowners.

Prosecutors say in exchange for substantial fees, the 71-year-old Buddhu told victims about a little-known government fund that could be used to pay off their mortgages and other debts but no such fund exists. They say his victims ended up in foreclosure after he advised them to stop paying their mortgages.

His attorney says he has life threatening health problems and sought a reduced sentence.

His daughter, Sunita Buddhu, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for selling fictitious financial instruments.